Chapter Fifty-Four

WE ARE LOCKED together in Ariadne’s room. The sheets on the bed are foetid with her sweat. I realise that the room must stink. Cassandra gagged as he shoved her through the door. She and Philippa are huddled on the floor, sitting next to each other but not speaking. There’s no rapport between them. They seem only to agree about one thing: they don’t want me anywhere near them. We are separated by the bed. If I try to get closer, they tell me to keep away. Philippa says it menacingly, Cassandra is almost hysterical. It is worse than a nightmare. If I’d never set eyes on them, at least I could have pretended that I held a place in their hearts.